Cleaners Award inauspicious 'Golden Toilet Duck' to Spotless Services

Cleaners protesting outside the cleaning industry's Golden Service Awards recognised Spotless Services as the worst contract cleaning firm in New Zealand by awarding their own 'Golden Toilet Duck' to the company for their lack of respect for cleaners.

"The cleaning work Spotless takes credit for today is done by low waged Pacific Island, Maori and migrant workers, many of whom are living on the poverty line," said SFWU Cleaners Union National Secretary John Ryall.

"Spotless pays only $10.95 per hour to cleaners and refuses to work with the SFWU Cleaners Union and building owners in the property industry to improve the situation for their staff" said Mr Ryall.

The awards were judged on a range of criteria including health and safety; staff appearance, attitude and enthusiasm; and innovation. Yet cleaning was one of the most dangerous industries in New Zealand.

"Spotless is the largest employer of cleaners in New Zealand. Their staff often work in appalling conditions with completely unrealistic work rates and yet they are expected to be the smiling public face of the company," said Mr Ryall

"With the pay I'm on, only $10.95 after eight years' service, you'll excuse me if I'm not enthusiastic," said Spotless cleaner and SFWU Cleaners Union member Sue Lafaele.

Staff treatment was notably absent from the list of judging criteria for the Golden Service Awards, but cleaners were happy to fill the judges in about the way Spotless staff were treated.

"One example is that Spotless have failed to pay us four times this year. Just two weeks ago, cleaners' kids had to go to school hungry because Spotless didn't pay us. Nor did they try to contact us to let us know about the problem."

"Spotless have no respect for cleaners, or our families. That's why we have awarded them the Golden Toilet Duck today" concluded Sue.